2017 UNDERGRADUATE WINNERS

UNDERGRADUATE FIRST

Abraham Espinoza

Matthew Rooda

ENTRY NAME:

SwineTech

SCHOOL:
The University of Iowa

ADVISOR NAME:
Dr. Thomas Hornbeck

ENTRY DESCRIPTION:

Newborn Piglets are Safe by Sound

More than 116 million newborn piglets were accidentally crushed to death by their mothers on hog farms in 2016, resulting in billions of dollars lost. The SmartGuard system monitors the pitch, loudness, and duration of squeals and determines whether a piglet is in distress or just squealing as piglets normally do. When a piglet is in distress, the device sends a vibration to a wearable patch on the mother, prompting her to stand and free her piglet.

UNDERGRADUATE SECOND

Clayton Andrews

Talia Kirschbaum

Pooja Nair

Harrison Nguyen

ENTRY NAME:

AssistENT

SCHOOL:
Johns Hopkins University

ADVISOR NAME:
Dr. Robert Allen

ENTRY DESCRIPTION:

Easier Breathing Through the Nose

One in eight people experiences difficulty breathing through the nose. This can hinder sleep and impact aerobic endurance during exercise or daily activities. AssistENT has created a flexible yet stable device that is worn completely within the nose and aids breathing by expanding nasal passages safely, comfortably, and discreetly. This invention is intended as an alternative to current treatments, such as external adhesive strips or invasive surgery.

UNDERGRADUATE THIRD

Paco Abiad

Ashwinraj Karthikeyan

ENTRY NAME:

InMEDBio

SCHOOL:
University of Virginia

ADVISOR NAME:
Dr. Bala Mulloth

ENTRY DESCRIPTION:

Healing Layers

The growing prevalence of diabetes around the world has brought on an increase in chronic wounds, especially on the feet. These wounds can take months to heal and are prone to infections and other life-threatening complications. The Phoenix-Aid is a five-layer bandage that meshes the ABCs of chronic wound care: accelerate healing, block pathogens, and comfort wound, into one cost-effective product that is ideal for patients in developing countries.

2017 GRADUATE WINNERS

GRADUATE FIRST

Ning Mao

ENTRY NAME:
Engineered Probiotics

SCHOOL:
Boston University

ADVISOR NAME:
Dr. James Collins

ENTRY DESCRIPTION:

Building Bacteria to Fight Cholera

Ning Mao has shown that a safe bacteria found in dairy products has the serendipitous benefit of inhibiting the progression of a cholera infection. Building on this discovery, she developed an engineered version that provides early detection of cholera and helps further contain the spread of the disease. This synthetic probiotic could control outbreaks and save lives. In addition, the technology could be adapted to fight other types of bacterial infections.

GRADUATE SECOND

Travis S. Schlappi

Nathan G. Schoepp

ENTRY NAME:
dAST

SCHOOL:
California Institute of Technology

ADVISOR NAME:
Dr. Rustem F. Ismagilov

ENTRY DESCRIPTION:

More Effective Antibiotic Prescriptions

The unchecked use of antibiotics has threatened the efficacy of these life-saving drugs. The goal of this invention is to enable doctors to make more effective prescriptions where treatment happens: the doctor’s office. This test only requires 30 minutes to determine if an infection can be successfully treated with an antibiotic, while traditional methods require multiple days. Having this knowledge improves patient outcomes, and enables the preservation of these drugs by avoiding over-prescribing.

GRADUATE THIRD

Praveen Kumar Reddy Majjigapu

ENTRY NAME:
NextGen Structural Rehab System

SCHOOL:
West Virginia University

ADVISOR NAME:
Dr. Hota GangaRao

ENTRY DESCRIPTION:

Building New Life For Old Structures

Much of America’s infrastructure is well past its intended lifespan and repair costs number in the trillions. Structural joints, where at least two members meet, are the most crucial to the integrity of a building or bridge. This invention is a four-part system designed to fortify existing joints, extending their service lives, and improving the safety of a structure under extreme loads efficiently and economically. Tests have shown that renewed joints can withstand 500% more force than unfortified joints.

2017 PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER

PEOPLE'S CHOICE AWARD

Andrew Falcone

David Ferrara

Maria V. De Abreu Pineda

ENTRY NAME:
CerebroSense

SCHOOL:
Stevens Institute of Technology

ADVISOR NAME:
Dr. Vikki Hazelwood

ENTRY DESCRIPTION:

Better Brain Monitoring

During open-brain surgeries, the brain’s health is monitored by perhaps the world’s first medical device, the finger. The surgeon or anesthesiologist physically touches the exposed brain to feel for changes in size that indicate swelling, decreased blood flow, or other issues requiring action. CerebroSense uses ultrasonic sensing technology to provide safe, non-contact, real-time measurements that can help reduce complications during and after surgery.